title: What hope for the future? GNAQ and uveal melanoma.
abstract: Uveal melanomas (UM) are aggressive ocular tumours that spread to the liver. They are characterised by alterations of chromosome 3 and 8, which are highly predictive of a poor prognosis. Unfortunately, being able to identify those patients with aggressive disease has not, as yet, translated into improved survival. Recently, mutations of guanine nucleotide-binding protein G(q) subunit alpha (GNAQ, or G-alpha-q), which effectively turn it into a dominantly acting oncogene, have been identified in approximately half of UM. These mutations are specific to UM and other non-cutaneous melanomas, and are not found in normal tissues, thus making them potential therapeutic targets. Here, the authors review the background to GNAQ in UM and explore what makes it such an interesting target for the future treatment of patients.
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Ophthalmology and Orthoptics, Department of Oncology, K Floor, School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health, University of Sheffield, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK. k.sisley@sheffield.ac.uk
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sisley
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Doherty
authors.forename: Neil A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Cross
mesh_terms: D018450:Disease Progression; D043802:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gq-G11 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011379:Prognosis; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D000098943:Uveal Melanoma
chemical_list: D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D043802:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gq-G11